Perkins goes for gas in the Eagle
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• Perkins has introduced a natural-gas-powered variant of its Eagle Tx engine, rated at 300hp (224kV1). The engine was demonstrated last week at the Metha-Motion exhibition in London fitted to a 32-tonne ERF tractive unit destined for trial with BOC Distribution Services.
The Tx300 is the first of a range of CNG Eagle engines spanning a similar power range to the diesel models; it is due to begin series production in Shrewsbury in late 1997. It has spark ignition with a turbocharger wastegate and an oxidation catalyst, and weighs no more than the diesel variant. Peak torque is 1,0591bft (1,436Nm) at 1,000rpm-6% more than the comparable diesel model, at lower revs: its peak power of 300hp (224kW) appears at 1,900h-pm.
BOC's 4x2 ERF tractor will be in service with Marks and Spencer, delivering chilled foods around London. It joins a gaspowered ERF 17-tonner which has been on trial for a year. The 3.8m-wheelbase tractive unit has a range of around 250 miles from six composite-construction was cylinders which weigh 92kg apiece and each hold 140 litres of fuel (weighing around 32kg) at 200bar. Cab noise levels are claimed to be 5dB(A) lower than the diesel model's.